By Strauss - Wikiwand

Song by George and Ira Gershwin

"By Strauss"
Song by George Gershwin
Composer	George Gershwin
Lyricist	Ira Gershwin

"By Strauss" is a 1936 song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin. It pays homage to the music of Johann Strauss, Sr. and Johann Strauss, Jr.

The singer sings how he doesn't like Broadway, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter and - in a case of self-mockery - George Gershwin. Instead he wants to dance to waltzes by father and son Strauss. The lyrics reference three of Strauss's best known compositions, namely An der schönen blauen Donau ("Let the Danube flow along"), Die Fledermaus ("and the Fledermaus") and Wein, Weib und Gesang ("Keep the wine and give me song").^[1]

History

After hearing the Gershwins perform an early version of the song at private parties, Vincente Minnelli included it in his 1936 revue The Show Is On, where it was introduced by Gracie Barrie and Robert Shafter.^[2]^[3]

It was then performed by Gene Kelly, Georges Guétary, and Oscar Levant (dubbed by Mack McLean) in Minnelli's 1951 film An American in Paris.^[4]^[5] Ira Gershwin was pleased with the film and, leading up to its premiere, wrote: "Some of the songs like 'By Strauss,' 'Love Is Here to Stay,' 'Tra-La-La' and a couple of others aren't well known but will be easy to take."^[6]

The song was also featured in the 2012 musical Nice Work If You Can Get It, performed by the character Estonia Dulworth in a counterpoint with a reprise of "Sweet and Low-Down".

Notable recordings

Many other artists have also recorded the song. Among them:^[7]

Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook (1959)^[8]
Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band - All Smiles (1968)
Tony Jay - Poets on Broadway (2005)

References

↑ "genius.com". genius.com. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
↑ "Internet Broadway Database". ibdb.com. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
↑ Kimball, Robert (1993). The Complete Lyrics of Ira Gershwin (First ed.). New York: Alfred A. Knopf. p. 279. ISBN 0-394-55651-8.
↑ "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
↑ Kimball, Robert (1993). The Complete Lyrics of Ira Gershwin (First ed.). New York: Alfred A. Knopf. p. 279. ISBN 0-394-55651-8.
↑ Jablonski, Edward (1998). Gershwin. Da Capo Press. p. 355.
↑ "secondhandsongs.com". secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
↑ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved June 11, 2024.

v t e George Gershwin
Albums	Gershwin Plays Gershwin: The Piano Rolls
Ballets	An American in Paris Gershwin Piano Concerto Three Preludes Who Cares?
Operas	Blue Monday (1922) Porgy and Bess (1935)
Musicals	Half-Past Eight La La Lucille Morris Gest's Midnight Whirl George White's Scandals (1920–1924, including Blue Monday) A Dangerous Maid Our Nell The Rainbow Sweet Little Devil Primrose Lady, Be Good! Tell Me More Tip-Toes Song of the Flame Oh, Kay! Strike Up the Band Funny Face Rosalie Treasure Girl Show Girl Girl Crazy Of Thee I Sing Pardon My English Let 'Em Eat Cake
Films	Delicious Shall We Dance A Damsel in Distress The Goldwyn Follies The Shocking Miss Pilgrim Kiss Me, Stupid
Orchestral works	Rhapsody in Blue (1924) Concerto in F (1925) An American in Paris (1928) Second Rhapsody (1931) Cuban Overture (1932) Strike Up the Band (1934) Hoctor's Ballet (1937)
Piano compositions	Three Preludes (1926) French Ballet Class (1937)
Songs	"Aren't You Kind of Glad We Did?" "(I've Got) Beginner's Luck" "Bess, You Is My Woman Now" "Bidin' My Time" "Blah Blah Blah" "Boy Wanted" "Boy! What Love Has Done to Me!" "But Not for Me" "By Strauss" "Clap Yo' Hands" "Do It Again" "Doin' Time" "Embraceable You" "Fascinating Rhythm" "A Foggy Day" "For You, for Me, for Evermore" "Funny Face" "'The Half of It, Dearie' Blues" "He Loves and She Loves" "How Long Has This Been Going On?" "I Can't Be Bothered Now" "I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'" "I Got Rhythm" "I Loves You Porgy" "I Was Doing All Right" "I've Got a Crush on You" "Isn't It a Pity?" "It Ain't Necessarily So" "Just Another Rhumba" "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" "Let's Kiss and Make Up" "Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away)" "Looking for a Boy" "Lorelei" "Love Is Here to Stay" "Love Is Sweeping the Country" "Love Walked In" "The Man I Love" "My Cousin in Milwaukee" "My Man's Gone Now" "My One and Only" "Nice Work If You Can Get It" "Of Thee I Sing" "Oh, Lady Be Good!" "Oh, So Nice!" "The Real American Folk Song (is a Rag)" "'S Wonderful" "Sam and Delilah" "Slap That Bass" "Somebody from Somewhere" "Somebody Loves Me" "Someone to Watch Over Me" "Soon" "Stairway to Paradise" "Stiff Upper Lip" "Strike Up the Band" "Summertime" "Swanee" "That Certain Feeling" "They All Laughed" "They Can't Take That Away from Me" "Things Are Looking Up" "Tra-la-la" "Treat Me Rough" "Walking the Dog" "Who Cares?" "You've Got What Gets Me"
Tribute albums	Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin By George Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book Ella Sings Gershwin Gershwin Live! Gershwin's World The Glory of Gershwin Ira, George and Joe Nice Work If You Can Get It Oscar Peterson Plays the George Gershwin Songbook Red Hot + Rhapsody: The Gershwin Groove Rosemary Clooney Sings the Lyrics of Ira Gershwin
Related articles	Gershwin Prize Ira Gershwin (brother) Arthur Gershwin (brother) Frances Gershwin (sister) Gershwin Theatre
List of compositions by George Gershwin Category:George Gershwin

Authority control databases	MusicBrainz work

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